BEST TCP: Trapdoor #BESTRobotics2025

Prusa 3D Printing National Challenge Entry #BESTRobotics2025

Allen High School - Allen Eagle Robotics #0058, Collin County (CoCo) BEST Hub

Model Description

Function

• The function of this part is to use gravity in order to sort between heavy and light factoids, collecting true factoids while discarding false ones. It utilizes the use of a spring in order to make sure this part can be used repeatedly throughout a match.

Benefits in Relation to BEST Robot

• This part benefits BEST robots greatly as it aims to overcome a large challenge in this year’s game: the sorting of factoids. The ability to collect true factoids is an essential part of getting points, so having a part that can easily and accurately sort between true and false is a great advantage to any team.

Design Process

• I started off by deciding which challenge to tackle, and landed on the factoid intake as being the most important and solvable. From there, I especially focused on the weight difference between true and false factoids, as this difference could lead to the factoids having different effects on their surroundings. Keeping this in mind, I developed a design that could work with a spring, which resulted in a trapdoor-esque part. From there, I created the necessary supporting structures in order for the factoids to be separated once they rolled over/into the trapdoor.

3D Print Settings

• Printer: Original PRUSA Mini & Mini + Input Shaper
• Filament: Generic ABS
• Infill: 15%
• Support: Everywhere
• Orientation: Place each part parallel to each other. See image 1.4 for more details.